REDDITCH Borough Council will receive a further £158,204 from the Government to help pay for its response to coronavirus.

This is part of an extra £500 million, which will help councils continue to deliver crucial frontline services and support those most in need.

In total, since the pandemic began, Redditch Borough Council will have now received an additional £1,038,047.

This additional support forms part of a comprehensive package of Government support to help councils respond to the pandemic, including an unprecedented new scheme to help councils recover lost income, including from car parks and museums, which have been shut during the lockdown.

The Government has announced a co-payment scheme that will compensate councils for irrecoverable income losses from sales, fees and charges.

Redditch MP Rachel Maclean said: “Under the leadership of Cllr Matt Dormer, Redditch Borough Council have played a heroic role in coordinating the local response to Coronavirus and I’m sure everyone in our community will join me in thanking them for everything they’ve done under extraordinary circumstances.

“The Government said at the beginning of this crisis that they would stand behind our councils and I’m delighted that they have done, protecting local services and ensuring councils come through this difficult period with stable finances. This additional £158,204 shows they’ve continued to listen to local concerns and will protect local services in Redditch on which we all rely.”

Leader of Redditch Borough Council, Cllr Matt Dormer, said: “I welcome this further round of funding to support the council’s services during this pandemic. We’ve now received £1,038,047 in total since the beginning of this crisis for which I’d like to thank the Government for support they’ve given us.”

Deputy Leader of Redditch Borough Council, Cllr Mike Rouse, added: “The extra funding we’ve received from the Government has enabled the council to support our residents during this pandemic. I’d also like to thank Rachel for her support in lobbying the Government for further funding for councils.”